Edwards must learn to handle pressure, says Richardson

Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach leading the West Indian pace battery hardly inspired awe over the two mornings at the Eden.

Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach leading the West Indian pace battery hardly inspired awe over the two mornings at the Eden.

Wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh standing up to the medium-pace of skipper Darren Sammy, their first change bowler, was even more disheartening to see when compared to the mighty days of fearsome pace and artful movement.

The wicket here was not particularly responsive, but the absence of a probing line made the pitch look more placid than it actually was.

Despite that team manager Richie Richardson seemed in good humour. Rarely would one find a West Indian looking grumpy, and the 49-year-old was no exception, keenly practicing his golf swing as he awaited the elevator on the third floor of the BC Roy Club House post lunch on Tuesday.

"But that's cricket. That's a fast bowler's life I guess," the former skipper told HT, looking for some justification of the listless pace bowling.

Being realistic

"It will take some time. We have got a programme in place just for that and we are hoping players will come up soon," said Richardson, who rarely wore a helmet facing fast bowling as a top-order batsman, as he watched haze engulf the Eden.

"I'm not new to struggle. I have struggled before," he added, when asked about the predicament of his bowlers later at a briefing. "We need to believe in ourselves. We can't be the best all the time," said Richardson.

Edwards especially had a topsy-turvy day, hitting a struggling Yuvraj Singh on his shoulder early but also going for runs.

"Cricket is always about pressure. Edwards has to handle it," said Richardson, who took over from Viv Richards to successfully lead the West Indies in the early 90s before cricket in the Caribbean declined.

The mention of Sachin Tendulkar, who on Tuesday completed 22 years in Test cricket, brought him back into the conversation overriding his brief annoyance with his wait for the elevator.

"Well done Sachin!" exclaimed Richardson. "I just hope he goes on to play for another 22 years," he said with a big grin before deciding to take the stairs.